Quaife-Hobbs to get first taste of F1 with Virgin

GP3 Series competitor Adrian Quaife-Hobbs will get his first taste of life in the fast lane with his maiden F1 test for Virgin Racing in Spain this weekend...

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs will enjoy his first taste of F1 power when he conducts testing duties for Virgin Racing in Spain this weekend - and with 'no pressure to perform', the young British ace admits he is champing at the bit to get out there.

Quaife-Hobbs is presently competing for the sister Marussia Manor Racing outfit in the GP3 Series, and as part of the Marussia Virgin Young Driver Development Programme, he will complete approximately 300 kilometres in the MVR-02 at Idiada in Tarragona on Sunday, tasked with evaluating the bodywork of the car used in the first three races of F1 2011.

Thereafter, the 20-year-old will try out the updated package in preparation for the upcoming grands prix, and he has already had a seat-fitting at Virgin's Sheffield workshop to get himself comfortable in his new cockpit.

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"I'm very much looking forward to driving an F1 car for the first time," he enthused, palpably relishing the unique chance he has been given, "and I must thank the Marussia Virgin Racing team for the faith they have shown in me in allowing me to carry out aerodynamic testing in their new car.

"It's a great opportunity to get the chance to drive an F1 car as the team carries out computerised design testing with the new car. We'll be testing lots of aero parts, and I'm really proud to be playing a part in it. Doing aero testing, there is no pressure to perform, but it will give me a great opportunity to see how the F1 team works."

Following the test, Quaife-Hobbs will return to racing action in the next double-header rounds of the 2011 GP3 Series, which take place around the Circuit de Catalunya circuit in Barcelona over the weekend of 20-22 May.